Low orders, strong dollar soften wool market
The strong dollar, restricted off-shore interest and high volumes of one wool category on offer this week saw local prices ease.
The rapid rise in the New Zealand dollar just prior to auction saw a lowering of local wool prices in many areas says New Zealand Wool Services International (NZWSI).
Marketing executive, Paul Steel says that of the 18,200 bales on offer 88.4% sold.
The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies was up 1.78% compared to the last sale on 12th March.
Steel says that Fine Crossbred Fleece and Shears ranged from firm to 5% dearer.
Coarse Crossbred Full Fleece were generally firm. Coarse Shears were firm to 2% cheaper.
First Lambs were firm to 1.5% cheaper overall.
Long Oddments were 2 to 7% easier with short types firm to 3% down.
There remains strong interest from China and Australasia with support from the Middle East, Western Europe, India, and the United Kingdom.
Next sale on 26th March comprises approximately 9,500 bales from the South Island.
New Zealand dairy farmers are set to be the first in the world to receive access to a new digital physical milk pricing tool that enables them to fix the price for their physical milk.
State farmer Pāmu is opening its farm gates this summer in an effort to give the rural sector the opportunity to see how large-scale, multi-system farming is delivering productivity and profitability across New Zealand.
A five-year study has found that the cost of reducing emissions without technology may be significant and unsustainable for Northland dairy farmers.
DairyNZ says Waikato farmers need certainty on Plan Change 1, but they say that certainty must be matched with practical, workable rules and a clear transition that doesn't get ahead of the new resource management system currently under review.
While the Government has moved quickly to make commercial hauliers' lot easier during the current fuel crisis, they appear to be stuck in the creep box when it comes to the agricultural industry.
Waikato farmers have been told that the Government’s new planning system legislation and the region’s Plan Change 1 (PC1) “won’t mesh together very well”.

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